Elk River Trail Access Limited as Trail Improvements Completed

The Elk River Trail in the Headwaters Forest Reserve will be temporarily closed beyond the one-mile mark during construction projects to replace culverts, improve drainage and stabilize the trail. Work begins Monday, June 1, and will last through August 1. Trail closure is necessary to for public safety and to allow work to proceed efficiently.

The work is part of a series of projects designed to improve trail conditions and to reduce sediment delivery into the South Fork Elk River.

Chris Heppe, who manages the Headwaters Forest Reserve for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), said the trail was constructed along an old logging road across steep, unstable terrain. As the roadbed has aged, erosion has increased and drainage structures have been failing. This project will stabilize the trail for visitors and improve fish habitat.

The first mile of the Elk River Trail will remain open and is accessible for those with limited mobility. Interpretive signs provide information about the unique cultural and natural history of the Reserve. Bicycles and dogs (under owner’s control) are allowed on this stretch of the trail. There is no fee. Access is limited to daylight hours.

Headwaters visitors can enjoy the southern part of the forest near Fortuna by reserving space on a guided hike along the Salmon Creek Trail. BLM park rangers lead the hikes and explain features of the forest, including groves of 1,000-year-old redwood trees. To reserve space for a weekend hike or to arrange a special outing, call the BLM Arcata Field Office at (707) 825-2300.

The Headwaters Forest Reserve is 7,472 acres of public land near Eureka. The BLM, in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Game, manages the area to preserve ecological and wildlife values, particularly the stands of old-growth redwood that provide habitat for the threatened marbled murrelet, and the stream systems that provide habitat for threatened coho salmon.